Coronavirus: Public gatherings banned in Qatar

QNADohaPrime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al Thani on Saturday issued a decision banning all forms of gatherings in public places such as the Corniche, public parks and public beaches as well as social gatherings.The move is part of the efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure safety of citizens and residents.This was announced by HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed al Khater, spokesperson of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, at a press conference on Saturday.As part the PM’s decisions, Khater said, mobile patrols will be deployed to ensure compliance with the law. Anybody found violating the law will be arrested, she added.Checkpoints will be set up in different parts of the country. A hotline is set up where people can submit complaints of any violations of this decision and the previous related decisions. The hotline is 44579999.Khater confirmed that the food stores and pharmacies as well as delivery services, including restaurants, will operate as normal.She reiterated that Qatar, with all its relevant organs and bodies, is doing everything it can to preserve the safety of society and to contain the virus without human losses.She said individual responsibility and societal sense must prevail to contain the spread of the virus.